The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1887-03-05
STIRRING SCENES.
Colonel Robertson Forcibly Elected From
the Indiana Senate Chamber.


INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Feb. "a. Stirring
scenes were enacted this forenoon in the
Senate chamber. Colonel Robertson, who
was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor
some time ago, applied at the Senate door
Tor admission and was refused. He con-
tinued to stand at the door until some one
on the inside said, ''That's all right" and
he passed into the chamber. Senator De
Motto applied at another door, but could
not gain admission, and he battered and
beat upon the door for some time in the
effort to get in. He then passed down
to the middle door just as Senator John.
son entered. The latter turned and
saw the doorkeeper refuse admission
to Denote and he began to expostulate
with them, calling them thugs and
scoundrels and demanding that Denote
should be admitted. Senator Mcdonald
then left his seat and passed over to the
door and took johnson by the arm. As
soon as the latter felt the grip Of the Sem
ator he turned and planted blow with his
list squarely between MeDonald's eyes,
staggering him and making an ugly cut on
the bridge of his nose. Mcdonald did not
resent the blow, but calmly advised john
son to go to his seat and learn to control
his temper. While this was going on
within the chamber a perfect bed
lam was raging outside. The crowd
was surging backwards and forwards in
the hall and around the door, and when
ever the latter was opened sticks were
placed between the doors to prevent them
from closing. The crowd would then pull
the doors open and try to force its way in.
Several struggles ensued from these at
tempts to gain an entrance, and in the
struggle one mans coat was torn into
shreds. A policeman was forcibly
carried away from the door and
ordered not to. return. Threats were
freely made of breaking down the doors
and forcibly entering the chambers, but no
attempt beyond pounding upon them with
fists and canes were made. On the inside
dramatic scene was enacting. After the
row between johnson and Mcdonald the
Senate was called to order, and Lieuten-
ant-Governor Robertson advanced to the
desk of the president, and placed his
foot upon the steps leading up to the
seat, as though he was going up to pre-
side over the Senate. At that moment
Door-keeper Pritchett took him vio-
lently by the arm and dragged him away
from the steps. In another instant he was
upon the steps again, and again he was
prevented from ascending by the door
keeper He then turned to address the
Senate, but was so frequently and bois-
terously interrupted by Smith that his
words could not be heard. He refused to
be seated, and~the door-keeper .was or.
dered by Smith TO put him out of the Cham.
Der, Pritchett immediately seized Rob.
ertson, and by pushing and dragging
forced him out at the north door of the
hall, the crowd being still around the mid
die door, and unaware Of what was going
on, till Robertson had been elected and
the door locked. After the exciting scenes
in the Senate the Republican members at
tempted to leave, but were prevented, the
doorkeeper having orders not to permit
them to pass out Of the chamber. They re-
fused to take any part in the proceed
ings, and by their silence stopped the bus
mess of the body, which could do nothing
in the way of passing bills without their
votes. Several bills introduced by the Re.
publicans were called up, but their authors
would not explain their provisions and
would not answer when addressed by the
chair